Automatic musical instrument



A. SWENSEN AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Original Filed May 12, 1916 s Sheets-Sheet 1 0a. 9, 1928. 1,687,046 A. SWENSEN AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Original Filed May 1 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. SWENSEN AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Original Filed May 12, 1916 3 sheets s eet 5 Patented on. 9,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED SWENSEN, OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CABLE. COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

9 AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

originalapplication filed May 12, 1916, Serial No. 97,153/now Patent No. 1,404,805; Divided and'this application filed August 13, 1321. Serial No. 491,895. 1

My invention relates to automatic musical instruments and more specifically, to instruments having tension-inducing devices; this application being adivision otan earlier application filed by me on May 12,1916, SerialNo. 97,153, entitled, Automatic'musical inst-rument and patented January 31, 1922, No. 1304,8053- Y Among the objects of my invention are those of providing an instrument of this type with improved means for controlling the air-tension-inducing motor, and for controlling the travel of the music-sheet.

Further objects'will appear from the de- "tailed description to follow, taken in connection with the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which one embodiment of my invention is shown- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a playerpiano embodying my invention, parts beingbroken away to show the interior construction; 1

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the windchest, reservoir, feeders, and associated parts; v I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2; v i Fig. i is a section, on the lured-4: of Fig. 3

d parts supported thereby;

Fig 11 is a front elevation of the tracker and music-sheet.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the invention is shown in connection witha player-piano comprising a casing 10, any usual or suitable piano-action and pneumatic player-action, a selector-mechanism 11, which may be of any usual or suitable type,

. an air-motor 12' for causing the travel of the music-sheet, an expressionemechanism 13 for controlling the volume of tone, a motormotor-actuated air-- operated air-tension-inducing device 14, and a toot-power air-tension-inducing" device 15.

The selectoranechanismll comprises music sheet winding and rewinding'gearing, WlllCh driven from the air-motor 12 by suitable driving connections 15".

The motor-operated air-tension inducing device comprises an air-pump .16, which may which is located in position to be engaged by the rod 23, which is connected to the which is connected to a rod 22,.the end of lever 24, which is pivoted at 25 to the keybed. The end of the lever 245 is turned up wardly to form a handle 26 which can be moved back and forth in the slot 27 of the key bed. To start the motor 17, the handle 26 is moved to the extreme right to bring the rod 28 into engagement with the rod 22 and close the switch 20. I

For stopping the motor 17,. a pneumatic 28 is provided, having a forked arm 29 secured to its movable leaf. This forked arm is located in position to engage the down-turned end. 30 of the rod 22. The pneumatic. 28 is controlled by means of a valve-action 31, which is connected with the opening 32 in the tracker 88 by means of the conduit The valve-actioniil is'connected with the pneumatic 28 by meansof the conduit 35, and with the air-pump 16 by means of the conduit 36, the junction-block 37 and the conduits 38 and. 89. The pneumatic 28 is provided with a spring 40 which normally keeps the pneumatic expanded and holds the forked arm 29 out ofoperative or. interfering engagement with the down turned end 80 of the rod.

In addition to the sheet-controlled means,

just described, for stopping the motor 17, a timed cut-out for the motor is provided, comprising a rod 11 pivoted to the lever 24 and having a. down-turned portion 42 for engagementwith a push-button or cammember 13 secured on the rod 4 1, a valve 15 located in position to be operated by the rod 44, a conduit 46controlled by the valve 45, a valve-action 47 connected with the conduit 46 and controlling the slows sting pneumatic-4L8, a restricted conduit 4-9 connecting the valve-action 4:7 and the slow acting pneumatic 4:8, a springzyvalve 50 located in position to be engaged by the linger 51 secured to the movable leaf of the pneumatic 4:8. and a conduit 52 controlled by the springwalve 50 and connected to the valveaction 31 which controls the pneumatic 28.

No claim is made in this application to the timed eutout. just described.

For operating the reroll and tempo-indicater mecl'ianism, rod is provided, connecting the lever 24 with a rock-shalt 54. which constitutes a part of suitable reversing and indicating mechanism. The reversing and indicating mechanism (not illustrated in its entirety, as it may be of any suitable type) controlsthe direction of rotation of the music-spool and oi the take-up roll 55. This take-up roll 55' is provided with a book 55" for detachably e1 gaging the ring 55 oil the music-sheet 78. To prevent accidental reversing of the travel of the music sheet, a movable stop 56 is located in position to be engaged by the lever 24:. This step is mounted on a spring-support 57 (Fig. 7), and its movement is limited by means of a screw 58 embedded in the key-bed. The end of the stop 56 is provided with an abutment 59 for engagin the lever 24. The stop 56 is recessed at 60 to receive the lever 24% when the stop is n'ioveddown so that the abutment 59 clears the lever For automatically moving the abutment 59 out of the way of the lever 24 at the end of the forward travel of the music-sheet, a pneumatic 61 is provided, having an arm 62 which extends within the recess 63 in the stop 56. This pneumatic 61 is connected by means of conduit G l with a valve-action which valve-action also controlsthe pneumatic 66 which operates the reroll and action-cut-otl mechanism. This pneumatic 66 is provided with a line er 67 on its movable leaf. which engages the down-turned end 68 of the action-cut-oit rod 23, to which is socured the valve-rod 68 ot' the action cut-oll valve. The pneumatic 66 is provided with a spring 69 for holding it in expanded posi tion. The valve-action is connected with the opening 'ZO in the tracker by means of the conduit 71. F or stopping the musicspool 55 as soon as the music-sheet uncovers the opening 70, in rewinding, a pneumatic 721's provided, having a hoolearm 73 se cured to its movable leaf for engagement with the hook-arm is secured to rotate with the spindle 75 supporting the music-spool 55. The pneumatic 72 is connected, by means of the tube 76, with the valve-action 31 which controls the moto-r-stoppneumatic 28.

The action of the parts thus far described.

is as follows: To start the electric motor 17, the lever 24 is moved. to the extreme right, causing; he rod 28 to engage the rod 22 and close the switch 20. The lever 21!: is then positioned to give the desired speed to the air-motor 12, or is manipulated to give any desired speed to the music-sheet. After the selection has been played, a perforation 77 in the music-sheet 7S registers wi h the opening '1' O in the tracker, admitt' air through the conduit '71 to the VSiVQ-ZlQilOl'l 65. This results in the collaose of the pneumatics ill and 66. The pneumatic (ll will act under lower tension and therefore acts hetero the pneumatic 66. As the pneumatic (5i. collapses, it moves the abutment 59 out of the path oi the lever 24. As the pneumatic 6S collapses, the linger 67 engages the downturned end 68 of the rod 23 and moves the lever 2-fl over until it enters the recess (30 in the stop-56. The movement ot the lever 22!: to this position will reverse the connections between the air-motor 1 and the musiespool 55 and take-up roll to cause the musicsheet to be rew and. At the same tone, the rod cuts oil pneumatic communication of the player-action with the wind-chest 86 by movement of the valveo'od 68" to close the attached action-cut-o'll valve. The complete, or nearly complete, rev/inning: of the musicsheet exposes the opening); 32 in the tracker. and air is thus admitted, through duit l, to the valve-action 31, pneumatics 28 and to collapse, ope-inn switch 20 to stop the motor 1'? and throwing the hoot-arm 73 into the path of the heel:- arm 74: to stop the music-spool trom rotating, thus preventing; the tree end of the musie-sheet 78 from flapping.

In order to ei'li'ect the shutting oil oi? the electric current and the stopping of the motor 17. should the lever 24: be left for a considerable length or time zero position, the timed cut-out for the motor 17 provided, as described above. The action of the timed cut-out is, briefly, as follows: It the lever 24 is moved to aposition in which it engages the abutment 59, the tempo-indicator will be in zero position and pneumatic communication of the air-motor 12 with the wind-chest will, be completely cut ell, so tout the air-motor will stop. V hen the lever engages the abutment 59, the i\(7\'lltll11l@fl portion l2 of t e rod 41. engages the pushbutton 43, causi the rod 4% to open the valve 45. Opening of the valve ii-5 admits air, through the conduit to the valve-- action 41?, causing the pneumatic 48 to slowly collapse. When the pneumatic is riearl collapsed, the finger 51 engages the spring valve and opens it, admitting air to the conduit 52, thus causing the operation oi' the valve action the collapse of the pneumatic 28, and the opening; oi the switch 2?) whenever the lever 2 lis allowed to remain llll) in thejust-described position long enough for the slow-acting pneumatic as to reach and open the spring-valve 50;

For controlling the speed ofthe aiumotor 12, the down-turned portion' l2 of the rod ll is connected to'thevalve rod or stem 79 which is connected to the tempo-valve 80 (Fig. a). The tempovalve 80 controls the port 81 which affords communication ,between the air-motor 12 and the regulated-air passage 82 of the wind-chest. 86, the airpressure in the passage SQ'being controlled by means of the regulator 83, which may be of any usual or suitable construction.

For obtaining high speed'of'the air-motor 12, a high-tensioned valve 84 is provided, controlling the port 85 which affords direct communication between-the air-motor and the wind-chest 86. This high-tension valve 8 1 is located in position to be opened by the tempo-valve 80, theextension 86 (Fig.

l) on the high-tension valve being engaged and lifted by the right-hand end of the tempo-valve as the latter is moved to the,

extreme rigl'it. In order to prevent injuriously high tension in the air-motor 12, a relief-valve 87 is provided, which controls an atmospheric port 8?. This relietvalve 87 is mounted on a spring-support 88 iulcrumed about a screw 89. The tension of thespringsupport 88is regulated by means of a screw 90. The regulator 83 acts to govern theairtension to the air-motor 12 during the winding operation of the music-sheet winding and rewinding gearing. The relief-valve 87 acts as a means to limit the air service to the air-motor during the rewinding operation. The regulator 83 and the relief-valve 87 act alternatively relatively to each other. The air-motor 12 is in communi ation with the valve-box 90 through the conduit 91, which constitutes the air service connection from the regulator 83 and relief-valve 87 to the air-motor 12. The wind-chest 8G is in communication with the air-pump 16 through the conduit 92, past the check-valve 93, through the conduit 94, junction-block 95, conduit 96, junction-block 37,

duits 38 and 39. v

The operation of the parts just described is as follows: The tempo-valve 80 canbe placed in any desired position, with respect to the port 81, to give any desired speed to the air-motor 12, by means of the lever 24. When the lever 24 is moved to rewind position, i. e, the position which reverses the connections to cause rewind of the musicsheet, the tempo-valve 80 engages the hightension valve 84 and opens the port 85, thus connecting the air-motor directly with the wind-chest 86. If the tension in the windchest 86 becomes Xcessive, the relief-valve 87 will open, against the pressure of the spring-support 88, to relieve the tension and prevent undue strain upon the air-motor.

wind-chest.

. tracker.

This relief valve' 87 is particularlyduseful when the air-motorr12 is suddenly stopped,

due to the hook-211 1117 engaging the hookarm 73.

riations in the admission of atmospheric air,

may, bethe same as that describedin my ai'oresaid earlier application, Serial 'No. 97,153, filed May 12,1916, of which this application is a division.

As described 'n said application, Serial.

No. 97,153, the construction of the expression-mechanism 13 is such that, whena pertoration in the music-sheet 78 registers with the tracker-opening 97 (Fig. 11), it will cause the application of high tension in the In order to cause positive actuat'ion of thereroll' pneumatics 61 and 66, the music-sheet 78 is provided with a per- :toration 98, which will register with the tracker opening 97'when the perforation 77 registers with the reroll opening 70 in the This causes the application of high,

tension in the wind-chest when the rerollf pneumaticsv 61 and 66' are actuated, thus causing these pnoumatics to act promptly It will'be noted that there are and reliably. no perforations in the i'nusic-sheet forregistration with the motor-stop opening 32 in the tracker, as this opening 32' is flushed only when the music-sheet leaves thetracker, tor instance, when the music-sheet has been completely rewound. As a consequence of the fact that the music-sheet has no perioratio'n for registration with the opening 32, there are no perforations in the music-sheet which will travel anywherenear' the rcroll opening 7 O in the tracker, so that there is .no danger of accidental actuation of the reroll mechanism.

lVhat I do claim as my'invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A pneumatic sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising a device for inducing air-tension, a motor for operating said device, and a hand-operated ClQVlCQ for controlling the traveling; speed of the music'- sheet and for controlling said motor.

2. A pneumatic sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising a device for inducing air-tension, a motor" for operating said device, and a hand-operated device for coi'itrollingthe traveling speed of the musicsheet and for starting said motor.

.3. A pneumatic sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising a device for inducing air-tension, a motor for operating said device and a hand-operated device movable between two positions to control the travel ing speed of the music-sheet and movable beyond one of said positions to control said motor.

luu

4i An automatic sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising a manually controlled device movable between two positions to con trol the traveling speed of the music-sheet and movable beyond one of said positions to reverse the travel of the music-sheet, and sheet-controlled means eting on said manually controlled device to effect the reversal of the travel of the music-sheet.

5 An automatic sheet-controlled musical instrumentcomprising a manually controlled device movable between two positions to control the traveling speed of the nuisicsheet a stop movable into and out of the path of movement of said device for stepping said device one of suit positions, said device being movaole beyond said one of said positions to reverse tie travel of the music-sheet, and sheet-controlled means for controlling said step.

6. An automatic sheet-controlled musical. instrument comprising a manually controlled device movable between two positions to control the traveling speed of the musicsheet, a stop movable into and out of the path of movement of said device for stopping said device in one of said positions said device being movable beyond said one of said positions to reverse the travel of the music-sheet sheet-controlled means for moving said step out of the path of movement of said device, and means for moving said device beyond said-one of said positions to effect the reversal of the travel of the musicsheet.

7. The combination with a music-sheet having a re-roll perforation and a hightension perforation of an auton'iatic musical instrument having a tracker over which said music-sh et passes, means for reversing the travel of said music-sheet, a pneumatic for controlling said reversing means controlled by said re-roll perforation, and an air-tern sion device controlling the degree of airtension. for actuating said pneumatic and controlled by said high-tension perforation whereby when said hig i-tension perforation crosses said tracker, a comparatively high degree of air-tension wil be caused for actuating said pneumatic.

8. An automatic sheet-controlled musical. instrument comprising an air-pump, an electric motor for operating said air-pump manually controlled means for starting said motor and sheet-controlled means for stopping said motor, comprising switch and a pneumatic for actuating said switch, said manually controlled means being inopcr-- ative to stop said motor.

9. An automatic sheetcontrolled musical instrument comprising a tracker; means for causing the music-sheet to travel forwardly over said tracker, comprising a take-up roll; means to rewinding the music-sheet on the music-spool, said take-up roll bein provided therefrom when it has been rewound; and

sheet c trolled means for opposing the action Oi rewinding means when the mus sheet has in'icovcred certain opening in said tracker.

10. An automatic sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising a tracker; means for causing the music-sheet to travel forwardly over said tracker comprising a take-up roll; meals for rewinding the music-sheet on the music-spool, said take-up roll being provided with means for securing amusic- XCOlJ'tl'IC-ZGtO in such a manner that it will be released therefrom when it has been re wound; sheet-controlled means for opposing the action of said rewinding means when the music-sheet has uncovered a certain opening in said tracker; an air-pump; a motor for ting said air-pump; and sheet-conollcd means for stopping said motor when the music-sheet has uncovered a certain in said tracker. in automatic sheet-controlled musical instrun'ient comprising an air-motor for the travel of the music-sheet, an air- 1 inc-ans affording communication besaid air-motor and said air-pump, an atn'iospheric port leading to said communication means and a yielding pressure-operated valve controlling said port.

12. Ail automatic sheet-controlled musical instrum nt comprising a tracker; means for causing the music-sheet to travel forwardly over said tracker, comprising a takemp roll; means for rewinding the music-sheet on the music spool, said take-up roll being provided with means for securing a music-sheet thereto in such a manner that it will be released therefrom when it has been rewound; and sheet-controlled means for stopping said rewinding means comprising a rotatable member actuated by said rewinding means and a member movable into and out of the path of said rotatable member.

in automatic sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising a tracker; means for causii'lg the musicsheet to travel forwardly over said tracker comprising; a take-up roll; means for rewinding the music-shcet on the music-spool, said take-up roll being provided with means for securing a musicsheet thereto in such a manner that it will be released therefrom when it has been. rewound; and sheet-controlled means for stopping sair rewinding means, comprising a rotatable member actuated by said rewinding means a sheet-controlled pneumatic and a member movable by said pneumatic into and out of the path of saio rotatable member.

14. An automatic sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising a tracker; means for causing the music-sheet to travel forwardly over saidtracker, comprising a take-up roll; means for rewinding the music-sheet on the music-spool, said take-up roll being provided with means for securing a music-sheet thereto in such a manner that it will be 'released therefrom when it has been rewound; and sheet-controlled means for obstructing the action of said rewinding' means when the music-sheet has uncovered a certain opening in said tracker.

15. A music-sheet winding-and rewinding apparatus, shitting-means for reversing said apparatus from winding to rewinding and from rewinding to winding, and to a neutral intermediate position, and a stoppos'itioned to determine the said neutral position of said shifting-means. i

16. A musicsheet winding-and-rewinding apparatus, shitting-means for reversing said apparatus from Winding to rewinding and from rewinding to winding, and to a neutral intermediate position, and a stop positioned to determine the said neutral position of said shifting means, said step adapted to be thrown in and out of co-operation with said shitting-means.

17. A music-sheet winding-and-rewinding apparatus, mechanical shitting-means ior reversing said apparatus from winding to re- Winding and from rewinding to winding, and to a neutral intermediate position, pneumatic-means adapted to operate the said mechanical shifting-means, and a mechanical stop positioned to terminate the movement of the said mechanical shitting-means at the said neutral position.

18. A music-sheet winding-and-rewinding apparatus, mechanical shitting-means for reversing said apparatus from winding to rewinding and from rewinding to winding, and to a neutral intermediate position, pneumatic-means adapted to operate the said mechanical shitting-means, and a mechanical stop positioned to terminate the movement of the said mechanical shitting-means at the said neutral position, said stop adapted to be thrown in and out of co-operation with said mechanical shifting-means.

19. A music-sheet winding-and-rewinding apparatus, mechanical shifting-means for reversing said apparatus from winding to rewinding and from rewinding to windin and to a neutral intermediate position, pneumatic-means adapted to operate the said mechanical shifting-means, a mechanical stop positioned to terminate the movement of the said mechanical shifting-means at the said neutral position, a tracker having apertures therein, and connections from said apertures to said pneumatic-means.

20. A music-sheet winding-and-rewinding apparatus, auto-pneumatic shifting-means for shifting said apparatus from Winding to rewinding, and controlmeans to efi'ect high air-tension, said control-means correlated with said shifting-means and-adapted to prmginto act on such high air-tension durmg said shifting to rewlnding and to cause said high airtension to cease when the move-' ment oisaid shifting-means is completed.

21. A music-sheet winding-and-rewinding apparatus, shifting-means for reversing said out and connections therefrom to said shift-- ng-means, said cut-out adapted to be open against electric current when said shiftingmeans at its said neutral position, and to be closed to electric current at both Winding and rewnding control positions of said shifting-means i 28. A music-sheet winding-and-rewinding apparatus, shitting-means for reversing said.

apparatus iroin rewinding to winding condition, or to a neutral intermediate postion, an electric cutout and connections therefrom to said shifting-means, said cut-out adapted to be open against eiectric current when said shifting-means is at its said neutral position. I

A music-sheet winding-and-rewinding apparatus, shiftng-means for reversing said apparatus from rewinding to winding condition, or to a neutral intermediate position, an electric cut-out and connections therefrom to said shifting-means, said cut-out adapted to be open against eiectric current when said shitting-means is at its said neutral position, and to be'closed to electric current when said shifting-means is ei'lecting either said winding or rewinding conditions.

25, A pneumatic note-sheet-contr0lled musical instrument comprising an airpump, an electric motor for operating said air-pump, manually operable means for reversing the direction oi travel of the note-sheet, and means whereby said manually operable means may be used to start said motor.

A pneumatic note-sheet-controlled musical instrument comprising an air-pump, an

electric motor for operating said air-pump, manually operable means for controlling the speed of the note-sheet, and means whereby said manually operable means may be used to start said motor.

27. A pneumatic note-sheet-controlled mu-' sical, instrument comprising an air-pump, an electricvmotor for operating said air-pump, manually operable means for controlling the speed of the note-sheet and for reversing the direction of travel of the note-sheet, and means whereby said manually operable means may be used to start said electric motor.

'28. .The combination with a music-sheet winding and rewinding apparatus, of automatic means operating to oppose the rewinding movement of said apparatus when the music-sheet has been rewound without placing strain upon the music-sheet.

29. The combination with a music-sheet winding and rewinding apparatus, of sheetcontrolled means operating to oppose the rewinding movement of said apparatus when the music-sheet. has been rewound without placing strain upon the music-sheet.

30. The combination with a music-sheet winding and rewinding apparatus including an air-motor, an airpump for creating airtension for said air-motor, and an electric motor for driving said air-pump, of automatic means operating to simultaneously oppose the rewinding movement of said apparatus and stop said electric motor when the music-sheet has been rewound.

31. The combination with a music-sheet winding and rewinding apparatus including an air-motor, and an air-pump for creating air-tension for said air-motor, of automatic means operating to simultaneously oppose the rewinding movement of said apparatus and stop said air-pump when the musie-sheet has been rewound.

32. An automatic sheet-controlled musica1 instrument comprising an air-motor for causing the travel of the music-sheet, means operating to suddenly oppose the action of said air-motor when the music-sheet has been rewound, an air-pump, means aii'ording communication between said air-motor and said air-pump, an atmospheric port leading to said communication means, and a yieldin pressure-operated valve controlling said port to prevent dangerously high tension in the air-motor when said opposing means are operated.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ALFRED SWVENSEN. 

